THE HEARTBREAKS FROM MORECAMBE TO THE LIGHTS OF JAPAN
North West born and raised four piece The Heartbreaks have been very busy since their 2009 formation. Touring with Morrissey and Hurts, their foray into alternative rock and roll has taken them from the seaside of Morecambe to the lights of Japan, and with Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers) producing them, it is hardly a surprise that they’ve made their way firmly on to the One’s to Watch list.
The boys have been grabbing the attention of everyone from Burberry to Bono, taking them a long way from the derelict promenade of the once great seaside town, with their northern charm accelerating them into the music and fashion sphere seamlessly. We caught up with lead heartbreaker, Matthew Whitehouse to talk about his one true love (the seaside), breaking Tom Petty fans hearts and why Southern water and the band have a tremulous relationship.
Do you often find yourself getting mixed up with the other Heartbreakers, Tom Petty or Johnny Thunders?
Yes, definitely, there’s a lot of disappointed Tom Petty fans at our concert. It’s awful seeing the disappointment etched on their faces when we come on stage.
Is your one true love Morecambe?
I think so. I think we’re inseparable, we couldn’t be from anywhere else, it’s inescapable, I don’t know if I want to escape, maybe I have Stockholm syndrome.
How do you feel about people comparing it to Miami with its palm trees?
Poor Miami. I’ve never been to Miami, but I imagine that’s a slight on them.
Do you think you could ever go back to Morecambe?
I don’t know, it’s funny isn’t it? When you’re from a small town, you feel like you want to escape, or you feel like you were born a long way from where you were supposed to be born, but once you move away you miss it. You miss walking down the esplanade, Rita’s Cafe, no where selling an espresso – you have to have a milky coffee. I don’t know if I’d live there again, but it’s forever in our hearts.
Now that you’ve experienced Japan, does England seem a bit boring?
It’s interesting ‘cos one of our songs is a big hit in Japan, and it’s a joke that we’re big in Japan, but it’s funny to be there and be treated like Elvis Presley for two weeks then come back to Morecambe and get the windows rolled down and people telling you to cut your hair. But it’s good to have the two, to experience both.
When you are on tour what northern comforts do you miss the most?
Yorkshire Tea. We’re living in the South at the present, and the water is awful, the tea has been affected! We had to switch to the hard water tea, it’s been a big decision in our house, we spent about a fortnight discussing it, then we made the plunge. We’re pretty happy with the decision but it was touch and go. Also our hair has gone out of control, it’s insane.
If you could be any other genre in any other era, what would you be?
I would be a Mersey Beat band in the sixties playing in the Cavern Club, that’d be me.
Do you reckon your 15 year-old self would be pretty happy with you right now?
He’d imagine we’d be number one so he’d be grossly disappointed.
If there is one thing you could tell him about your current life, what would it be?
Make the decision to switch to hard water tea sooner rather than later, don’t be scared, it does work with all the nutrients and the water and the minerals. That’s it: if you switch, don’t be scared.
What’s your favourite love song, other than Hey Hey Lover of course?
Of course! I have a few, Chelsea Hotel No. 2 by Leonard Cohen, Martha by Tom Waits and You’re the One for Me by Martin Creed. I think they’re my favourite three.
The album ‘We May Yet Stand A Chance’ is out now
Helen Calcutt
